Atticus
Boy name · #281 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Atticus? In official American birth records, Atticus has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
Atticus ranks #281 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,208 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #347, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,490 boys born in 2025 was named Atticus.
The 144-year story
Atticus first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 1,310 boys were named Atticus — good for #264 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Atticus per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Atticus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Atticus in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Atticus is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Atticus is most common
Geography matters for names, and Atticus is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Atticus is most common in WV (2.6 per 1,000), OK (2.1 per 1,000), ID (2.1 per 1,000), AR (2 per 1,000), KS (1.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Atticus is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Atticus
Statistically, parents drawn to Atticus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Augustus, Cassius, Adonis, Maximus, and Mathias.
AugustusCassiusAdonisMaximusMathiasCyrusMagnusAres
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Atticus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,208 | #281 |
| 2024 | 1,227 | #276 |
| 2023 | 1,187 | #284 |
| 2022 | 1,271 | #272 |
| 2021 | 1,310 | #264 |
| 2020 | 1,119 | #299 |
| 2019 | 1,096 | #309 |
| 2018 | 1,030 | #323 |
| 2017 | 959 | #350 |
| 2016 | 919 | #362 |
| 2015 | 980 | #347 |
| 2014 | 855 | #369 |
| 2013 | 738 | #404 |
| 2012 | 711 | #409 |
| 2011 | 577 | #466 |
| 2010 | 451 | #560 |
| 2009 | 422 | #608 |
| 2008 | 348 | #688 |
| 2007 | 346 | #685 |
| 2006 | 270 | #769 |
| 2005 | 245 | #791 |
| 2004 | 181 | #934 |
| 2003 | 125 | #1187 |
| 2002 | 106 | #1281 |
| 2001 | 87 | #1429 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Atticus?
In official American birth records, the name Atticus first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Atticus a popular boy name?
Atticus ranked #281 among boys in 2025 with 1,208 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #347.
When was the name Atticus most popular?
Atticus peaked in 2021, when 1,310 American boys received the name (ranked #264 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Atticus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,490 newborn American boys was named Atticus. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.